The 1961 film version of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "Flower Drum Song" is coming to DVD for the first time Nov. 7.

Universal Studios Home Entertainment is releasing the DVD, which will boast a digitally remastered picture and such bonus material as a feature commentary from star Nancy Kwan and film historian Nick Redman, mini documentaries on the evolution of the show from page to stage to screen, the casting of the show, the songs, the sets and costumes and the legacy of Rodgers and Hammerstein.

"Flower Drum Song" was directed by Henry Koster and was nominated for five Academy Awards: best sound, score, costume design, cinematography and art direction. It starred Kwan, Miyoshi Umeki, James Shigeta and Juanita Hall, with choreography by Hermes Pan. Memorable songs by composer Rodgers and lyricist Hammerstein include "I Enjoy Being a Girl," "Chop Suey," "Love, Look Away," "Don't Marry Me" and "A Hundred Million Miracles."

The film, which tells the story of Chinese immigrants living in San Francisco, is based on the Broadway musical, which is in turn based on the book "The Flower Drum Song" by C.Y. Lee.

The original Broadway production, with a book by Hammerstein and Joseph Fields, opened Dec. 1, 1958, at the St. James Theatre and ran 600 performances before closing May 7, 1960. A recent revival, with a new book by David Henry Hwang, opened Oct. 17, 2002, at the Virginia Theatre and ran 169 performances unil March 16, 2003.